Improvement in methods of stuffing leather



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FRANCIS A. WHITE, OF ROXBURY, MASSACHUSETTS.v

Specification, forming part of Letters Patent No. 15,499, dated August 5, 1856.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS A. \VHI'IE, of Roxbury, in the county of Norfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful improvements in carrying skins after they have been tanned; and I do hereby declare that the same is fully described in the following specification.

My improvement relates to that part of the process in currying which consists in stuffing the leather with grease or tallow. By the ordinary process of accomplishing the same the skin or tanned hide has first to be dried before the grease or tallow is rubbed into it, or While the skin is in a wet state the tallow or grease is applied to one side ofit, and the skin is subsequently hung up to dry, the tal 10w penetrating aftcrit has become dry. Both processes involve that of drying the skin, and the consumption of time and labor consequent thereon. By my improved process the tallow or grease is applied to the skin or leather while it is in a wet state or before being dried, and it is beaten into the leather, so as to expel and take the place of water, the water being more or less discharged or driven out of the skin by means taken to introduce the grease, such means being a common fullingmill, essentially such as is employed in fulling woolen goods,

In carrying out the process the skins, while they are still wet, orjust after they have been removed from the tan-vat, are placed, with tallow in a sufficient quantity, in the trough of the fulling-mill, the tallow being put in in the melted state; next, the falling stocks or beaters are set in motion, so as to roll over and beat the hide or skin, and the tallow into it, the water beigu forced out nearly, if not entirely, and the tallow or grease being made to take its place in the skin.

I find that when the tallow is driven into the skin while the latter is in a wet state the leather is much improved, and that certain parts of the skin, particularly the flanks, which are usually coarse and cannot be smoothly grained, and are generally employed in the legs of boots instead of in the feet thereof, are rendered capable of being finished and used like 13116113511 of the skin, but the oil used in the tanning process is of little or no consequence to the carrying process, from the fact that the securing operation which precedes stufling always removes all the oil used in tanning ifit has been used therein.

I am aware other oil has been combined with hides and skins in the process of tanning, as in the American patent of Keeler; but my mixture of tallow and oil could not be so used, because the tallow and oil on being brought into contact with water at the temperature used would separate from each other, and the consistence of the mass of oleaginous matter used by me is such that nothing less than the pounding operation of a fulling-mill, or other equivalent machine, would be sufficient to fill equally the pores of the skin withsuch a mixture. While, therefore, I disclaim the use of any such rotating apparatus as used by Mr. Keeler, aforesaid, or that used by Vanquelin, referred to in the correspondence hereof for charging skins, 850., with oleaginous matter,

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The mode of stuffing leather, substantially as set forth, whereby I dispense with the usual time required in drying before stuffing, and render the neck and flank parts a superior quality of leather.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my signature this 8th day ofMarch, A. D. 1856.

FRANCIS A. WHITE.

Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, F. P. HALE, J1. 

